As the US-Israeli campaign against Iran — Operation Epic Fury — enters its second month in late March 2026, a senior former Pakistani official has issued a blunt alert. Moeed Yusuf, Pakistan's former National Security Adviser, warned that if no off-ramp is found quickly, this conflict risks becoming what future historians will label World War III.

Speaking ahead of a high-level meeting of regional foreign ministers in Islamabad (Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt, and Pakistan), Yusuf stressed the urgency: without immediate de-escalation, the fighting could draw in far more players and trigger uncontrollable consequences across the region and beyond.

The Pakistani Perspective: A Neighbour's Grim Assessment

Pakistan sits in a uniquely exposed position. It shares a long border with Iran, has deep historical and religious ties to the Shia population there, and maintains complex relationships with both the United States (as a former major non-NATO ally) and China (its closest strategic partner via CPEC).

From Islamabad's viewpoint, the dangers of escalation look like this:

Proxy and militia wildfire: Iran's network of allied militias (Houthis in Yemen, Hezbollah remnants, Iraqi Shia groups, and others) has already begun striking Gulf targets and US assets. Further Iranian desperation could activate these groups more aggressively, hitting shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, oil facilities in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and bases across the region.

Nuclear shadow: Hardliners inside Iran are now openly calling for a nuclear weapon. If the regime feels existentially threatened (especially after the killing of Supreme Leader Khamenei and senior figures), the temptation to sprint toward a bomb — or use existing enriched uranium as leverage — grows. A nuclear dimension would instantly raise the stakes to global catastrophe levels.

Great power involvement: Russia and China have already provided diplomatic cover, intelligence, or dual-use support to Iran. Prolonged war could pull them in more directly — not necessarily with boots on the ground, but through advanced weapons, satellite intel, or economic warfare. Meanwhile, US troop reinforcements (including recent Marine deployments) and Israeli operations risk miscalculation that draws NATO or other allies deeper.

Regional dominoes: Sunni Arab states (Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey) fear Iranian retaliation and are pushing hard for diplomacy, but they could be forced to respond militarily if attacks on their territory continue. The meeting in Pakistan is an attempt by these powers to create a united front for de-escalation before the conflict spreads uncontrollably.

Pakistan itself has positioned as a potential mediator, relaying messages between Washington and Tehran. Its leaders emphasise "dialogue and confidence-building" as the only path forward, while privately dreading a flood of refugees, disrupted trade routes, and radicalisation spillover.

How WWIII Could Evolve – The Pakistani Lens

Yusuf's warning isn't alarmist rhetoric; it reflects a realistic chain of escalation that Pakistan fears most:

1.Conventional attrition → Iran conserves remaining missiles while using proxies and asymmetric tools (drones, mines in Hormuz, cyber attacks).

2.Ground threat → Iranian officials now openly warn they will "set American troops on fire" if the US commits ground forces. Even limited US or allied boots on the ground could trigger massive retaliation.

3.Broader regional war → Attacks expand to Gulf states, Israel faces renewed multi-front pressure, and energy infrastructure becomes a primary target.

4.Global entanglement → Oil prices spike dramatically (already straining global shipping), supply chains break, and major powers (China protecting its energy imports, Russia backing its ally) increase involvement. What starts as a targeted campaign against Iran's nuclear and missile programs becomes a wider clash involving great-power proxies, economic warfare, and eventual direct confrontations.

In short: a month-long limited war becomes a years-long regional inferno, then a global conflict defined by energy disruption, migration crises, and nuclear risks.

The Diplomacy Push in Islamabad

The gathering of foreign ministers from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt signals growing anxiety among Muslim-majority states. They want an end to hostilities, reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and a negotiated settlement that avoids total Iranian collapse or endless war. Pakistan has offered to host direct US-Iran talks, highlighting its role as a bridge.

Whether these efforts succeed depends on whether Washington and Tehran see value in an off-ramp before the "last missile, then the rocks" phase turns truly apocalyptic.

Lessons for the Wider World – Including Australia

Australia, as a US ally with heavy reliance on Middle East energy flows and stable global trade, cannot treat this as a distant sideshow. Prolonged disruption in the Strait of Hormuz would hit fuel prices, inflation, and supply chains hard — even from Melbourne.

Pakistan's warning should prompt sober reflection: modern great-power conflicts rarely stay contained. When nuclear-capable states, proxy armies, and energy chokepoints collide, small escalations can snowball.

The coming days in Islamabad will test whether diplomacy can still pull the region back from the brink — or whether Yusuf's prediction of a conflict remembered as WWIII becomes the grim reality.

https://www.infowars.com/posts/former-pakistani-official-warns-iran-war-could-become-ww3-mideast-leaders-will-meet-to-discuss-conflict